The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1887-02-18
The Egis & Intelligencer
Bel Air, Md, February IS. 1897.
H,RFORD COUSTY's REVOLUTION
RY RECORD.
Mostly from Original Documents.
BY G. W. ARCHER.

The following letter is the document of the
Oldest date among these papers. 1t was no
COMMITTEES Se ana dssed on lam meeting OF ne e
March, l1I5, when thirty-seven members. an I'M
usually large number 1t were present with Mr..
frrring 10 the published abridgement before al
sociatons OF tRe Continental Congress and the
resolves of the provincial Convention were
seriously considered; and the resolution adopt
ed concludes with these words: I'VE most
solemnly pledge ourselves to each other
and to our country, and engage ourselves
kind, to perform the same at the risk OF our
lives and fortunes" In other words, as appears
from the context Of the original document, they
pledged themselves to resist British tyranny to
the utmost, SO far as forswearlng the importa-
tation and use of all manner of British goods
whatsoever could contribute to that end. The
time for a resort to arms did not seem yet to
have arrived, and although, no doubt, many a
fiery spirit often contemplated II as possibility
toned, but with bated breath. 1t will be seen
that although written fifteen months before the
Of the above resolution are almost Identical
with the often quoted conclusion of the famous
ocument.
baltimore, March 18th. I715.
ITO the Committee OF Observation OF Hartford
county: Pursuant to the trust reposed in u.s. we
take the liberty Of informing you tnat brig call
ed the Sally. William Moat. master, from Bristal
lEngland,l having about 1000 bushels of salt on
board, arrived lately at Annapolis, on which DIR.
JOhn stevenson, 10 wnOm she was consigned ,QD-
piled TO our Committee to know whether he might
permitted to land the salt, alleging that IL ought
to be considered only as ballast and not intended
to be prohibited by the Association Of the Con-
tnental Congress. The committee being of
different opinion, resolved unanimously that IL
should not be landed: And not suspccting that,
alter such declaration of our sentiments, DIR.
Stevenson would act contrary thereto, more es-
pecially after having publicly declared that the
In open day light when the vessel should arrive
at baltimore, we judged it unnecessary TO take
any further steps In the matter.
I'VE are sorry to be under the necessity OF in
forming you that Notwithstanding our resolve
and Dr. Stevenson's declaration, he caused the
vessel to stop at the mouth OF our river, where
three or four craft took in part of the said salt
rs appears by an enquiry into the matter by our
Committee. last Monday. and as we suppose
rivers in the Bay and disposed of the salt, we
recommtn IT to you to use your best endeavors to
prevent such sale and to caution the Committee
of your vicinity on this subject. TIE proceedings
OF our Committee In this affair you will shortly
SEQ 10 print. In the meantime we would inform
remainder of the salt left on board the brig
(Which he says is about half the cargo,) into the
river and that the Captain has engaged on OATH
that no part thereof shall be landed any place on
the Continent between Georgia and Nova Scotia,
Mr. Woolsey of this place, has had a vessel
salt. He applied to us for an opinion, whether
he might have liberty to put 1t on board another
vessel, to carry 1t TO Nova Scotia as the vessel
II came in could not proceed there without de-
feating the voyage. This we readily agreed to
and Mr.. Woolsey has agreed to produce a suf-
as soon as that event takes place; and the Cap
tain Is on oath that he will not land 1t O1 any
part OF the Continent between Georgia and
Nova Scotia.
Gentlemen, your humble servant,
In behalf OF the Committee OF Safety,
49, SAMUEL PURvIAsCE. Junr, Chairman"
Tho following are the proceedings of the first
meeting recorded in these papers:
AT the meeting of the Committee at the
Lower Cross Roads lnow Churchville,l April 9th.
present there twenty Ill
captain william Smith in the chair.
ReSolred, That there should be general review
Quaker Meeting House on Whtsun Monday,
tne 5th day Of June, at Clark's Old Fields.'1
The words In brackets are erased in the origin
al. Cark's Old Fields was a famous muster
ground in the long ago, and as IL would seem
little short of a gratuitous insult deliberately to
surround with the din of arms an edihce whose
chief cornerstone is Peace and goodwill"
the words Quaker Meeting House" were erased.
and "Clarks Old Fields" written down, which,
in their turn, were erased, for reasons which APP
pear in the last clause of the next resolution.
Resolred, That the Captains consult their
eral review as appointed by the Committee, and
lay the result of their determination before the
next meeting of the Committee. 1t having al
ready been resolved by that body that the place
and time shall be fixed on by a majority OF the
companies William Webb, Isaac Bond. James
Harris were fined one shilling each for leaving
the Committee before the business was over.
Aquila Paca was fned three shillngs, having, no
doubt, left the meeting three times. The fines
ADJOURNMENT TO the chapel willow Shaw's)
first Monday In May"
- AS the Committee met on that day, at Hartford
Town (as the minutes show we ought to be
able to determine with tolerable certainty the
location of both the chapel and the widow
Shaws. But the question naturally occurs,
did the widow Shaw have a chapel of her own
or did she only live near somebody elsc's chapel?
And after all, 1t is possible that, in the interval,
and possibly by reason of momentous event
presently to be treated Of the place OF meeting
was changed by agreement. Ifso, the locality
OF the chapel as well as the widows habiation
Will n